Transmission apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus, which comprises a base, a transmission module, a first protection sleeve, and a second protection sleeve. The transmission module is disposed on the base and includes a moving unit. The first protection sleeve is disposed around the outer periphery of the transmission module and on the base. One end of the second protection sleeve is covered by the first protection sleeve. The second protection sleeve is disposed around the moving unit and moves linkedly along the moving unit. Thereby, the transmission apparatus according to the present invention may protection the transmission module.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a transmission apparatus, and particularly to a transmission apparatus having protection structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The electrochemical process is a processing method using the principle of anodic dissolution in electrochemistry and applicable to hard-to-process materials and thin plate processing.

The electrolysis process requires an electrolyte as the medium and the erosion problem should be considered. The thin-plate process needs to consider the precision in clipping and transporting workpieces.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus, which comprises a base, a transmission module, a first protection sleeve, and a second protection sleeve. The transmission module is disposed on the base and includes a moving unit. The first protection sleeve is disposed around the outer periphery of the transmission module and on the base. One end of the second protection sleeve is covered by the first protection sleeve. The second protection sleeve is disposed around the moving unit and moves linkedly along the moving unit. Thereby, the transmission apparatus according to the present invention may protection the transmission module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a stereoscopic view of the transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a stereoscopic view of the transmission module according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the transmission module according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a partially exploded view of the transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A shows a first operation diagram of the transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B shows a second operation diagram of the transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a partially enlarged diagram of the transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a partially exploded view of the transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the transport mechanism in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to make the structure and characteristics as well as the effectiveness of the present invention to be further understood and recognized, the detailed description of the present invention is provided as follows along with embodiments and accompanying figures.

Please refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. The transmission apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment may be applied to electrochemical processing. The transmission apparatus 1 comprises a base 11, a transmission module 13, a first protection sleeve 15, and a second protection sleeve 17. The first protection sleeve 15 is combined with the second protection sleeve 17, and becomes a shell structure and forms an accommodating space therein for accommodating the transmission module 13. Thereby, the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17 cover the outer periphery of the transmission module 13 and thus protecting the structure of the transmission module 13 effectively. For example, the may resist water and dust for the transmission module 13 for reducing the damages caused by specific applications such as electrochemical processing. Accordingly, the normal operations of the transmission module 13 may be maintained.

Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3. According to the present embodiment, the transmission module 13 may be disposed on the base 11, which includes a first base body 111, a second base body 112, and one or more a fixing rod 113. The fixing rod 113 is disposed between the first and second base bodies 111, 112. The transmission module 13 may include a driving unit 131 and a moving unit 133 (please refer again to FIG. 1B). The transmission module 13 passes through the first base body 111. Namely, the driving unit 131 passes through the first base body 111. The driving unit is connected to the moving unit 133 for driving the moving unit 133 to move horizontally. According to the present embodiment, the driving unit 131 may be a ballscrew. The moving unit 133 may be movable nut. The ballscrew may be driven by a motor and spin. The ballscrew spins and hence drives the movable nut to move back and forth.

According to the present embodiment, the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17 may be hollow cylinders. As shown in FIG. 1B, the first protection sleeve 15 includes a first hole 150, and the second protection sleeve 17 includes a second hole 170. The moving unit 133 of the transmission module 13 is disposed inside the first hole 15 of the first protection sleeve 15. In other words, the first protection sleeve 15 surrounds the outer periphery of the moving unit 133 of the transmission module 13. Besides, one end of the first protection sleeve 15 is fixed to the first base body 111 of the base 11.

The inner diameter of the first hole 150 of the first protection sleeve 15 is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the second protection sleeve 17. One end of the second protection sleeve 17 is disposed inside the first hole 150 of the first protection sleeve 15. That is to say, one end of the second protection sleeve 17 is covered by the first protection sleeve 15. The moving unit 133 is further disposed inside the second hole 170 of the second protection sleeve 17. Namely, the second protection sleeve 17 surrounds and is connected with the moving unit 133. Thereby, as the moving unit moves 133, it will drive the second protection sleeve 17 to move accordingly. In other words, the second protection sleeve 17 is moved linkedly by the moving unit 133. According to the above description, the first protection sleeve 15 is put around the second protection sleeve 17 and forming an outer housing. In addition, the first hole 150 communicates with the second hole 170 and thus forming the accommodating space 100 for accommodating and protecting the moving unit 133. Besides, the axis of the first protection sleeve 15 corresponds to the axis of the second protection sleeve 17. That is to say, the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17 are disposed coaxially.

Please refer to FIG. 4. The transmission apparatus 1 may further comprise a displacement sensing rod 21 and a location sensor 23. As shown in FIG. 1B, the location sensor 23 corresponds to the second hole 170 of the second protection sleeve 17 and is disposed on the other end of the second protection sleeve 17. Thereby, the location sensor 23 is moved linkedly with the second protection sleeve 17, and, in turn, moved linkedly with the moving unit 133. The location sensor 23 may move with respect to the displacement sensing rod 21, and thus sensing the displacement of the moving unit 133. According to the present embodiment, the location sensor 23 is annular and includes a hole 230. The displacement sensing rod 21 passes through the hole 230 as well as being located in the second hole 170. Thereby, the location sensor 23 surrounds the displacement sensing rod 21 and moves with respect to the displacement sensing rod 21. The location sensor 23 and the displacement sensing rod 21 are magnetic sensing modules and applicable to sensing the displacement of the second protection sleeve 17, which, in turn, translates into the displacement of the moving unit 133.

In addition, the transmission apparatus 1 further comprises a third protection sleeve 25. According to the present embodiment, the third protection sleeve 25 is a hollow cylinder. As shown in FIG. 1B, the third protection sleeve 25 includes a third hole 250. The inner diameter of the third hole 250 is slightly greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the end of the second protection sleeve 17. One end of the third protection sleeve 25 is fixed on the second base body 112 of the base 11, while the other end of the third protection sleeve 25 is covered by the end of the second protection sleeve 17. Thereby, the end of the second protection sleeve 17 and the location sensor 23 are disposed inside the third hole 250 of the third protection sleeve 25. In other word, the third protection sleeve 25 surrounds the outer periphery of the location sensor 23.

The displacement sensing rod 21 is disposed at the third protection sleeve 25, making the displacement sensing rod 21 disposed equivalently on the second base body 112 of the base 11. In addition, the displacement sensing rod 21 is located in the second and third holes 170, 250. Namely, the second and third protection sleeves 17, 25 surround the outer periphery of the displacement sensing rod 21. Because the second hole 170 communicates with the third hole 250, the closed accommodating space 100 is formed and hence protecting the displacement sensing rod 21 and the location sensor 23. Besides, the axes of the first and second protection sleeves correspond to the axis of the third protection sleeve 25, meaning that the first, second, and third protection sleeves 15, 17, 25 are disposed coaxially. In addition, a protection lid 26, which is a hollow member, covers the end of the third protection sleeve 25 and the displacement sensing rod 21. In other words, the end of the third protection sleeve 25 and the displacement sensing rod 21 are disposed in the accommodating space of the protection lid 26. The protection lid 26 is disposed on the second base body 112. Thereby, the displacement sensing rod 21 and the location sensor 23 may be protected effectively.

Please refer to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. The driving unit 131 may drive the moving unit 133 to move back and forth. For example, a ballscrew spins to drive a movable nut to move forward or backward. The moving unit 133 drives the second protection sleeve 17 to move; the second protection sleeve 17 drives the location sensor 23 to move. The location sensor 23 moves along the displacement sensing rod 21. Thereby, the location sensor 23 and the displacement sensing rod 21 may sense the displacement by magnetic sensing and further transmit the sensing signal to an external control device (not shown in the figures), so that the control device may acquire the displacement of the moving unit 133 and control the driving unit 131.

When the second protection sleeve 17 moves outward, it will not depart from the first protection sleeve 15 completely. Thereby, the accommodating space 100 inside the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17 still maintain closed. Hence, invasion of dusts, liquid, or any material into the transmission module 13 may be avoided and thus protecting the driving unit 131 and the moving unit 133. In addition, the second protection sleeve 17 includes a first outer diameter D1 and the second outer diameter D2 with the second outer diameter D2 greater than the first outer diameter D1. The first outer diameter D1 corresponds to the inner diameter of the third hole 250 of the third protection sleeve 25. The greatest moving distance D1 of the second protection sleeve 17 is limited by the outer diameter D2. As the moving unit 133 drives the second protection sleeve 17 to move to the third protection sleeve 25 continuously, the end surface of the second protection sleeve 17 having the second outer diameter D2 will be against the end surface of the third protection sleeve 25 and unable to move. That is to say, the greatest moving distance D1 of the second protection sleeve 17 is limited by the third protection sleeve 25. This greatest moving distance D1 is determined by the gap distance d2 between the end surface of the second protection sleeve 17 having the second outer diameter D2 and the end surface of the third protection sleeve 25.

Please refer to FIG. 6, the present embodiment may further comprise a plurality of sealing rings 27 disposed on the outer sidewall of one end of the second protection sleeve 17, respectively, and located at the overlap of the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17. Thereby, the plurality of sealing rings 27 seal the gap between the inner sidewall of the first hole 150 of the first protection sleeve 15 and the outer surface of the second protection sleeve 17. The sealing rings 27 may reinforce the airtightness between the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17. Thereby, the permeation of external dusts or liquid into the transmission module 13 via the gap between the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17 may be prevented.

Moreover, the plurality of sealing rings 27 are further disposed on the outer sidewall of the other end of the second protection sleeve 17 and located at the overlap of the second and third protection sleeves 17, 25. Thereby, the plurality of sealing rings 27 seal the gap between the inner sidewall of the third hole 250 of the third protection sleeve 25 and the outer surface of the second protection sleeve 17.

Furthermore, the present embodiment may further comprise one or more injection hole 29, which is a hole and disposed at the first protection sleeve 15. The injection holes 29 correspond to the plurality of sealing rings 27 and located at the overlap of the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17. The injection hole 29 communicates with the gap between the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17. During the electrochemical processing, some electrolytes may permeate via the gap between the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17. Being blocked by the sealing rings 27, the electrolytes may possibly become crystals. Thereby, the liquid, such as water, is injected into the injection hole 29 and flows from the injection hole 29 to the gap between the first and second protection sleeve 15, 17. Hence, the crystals near the sealing rings 27 will absorb the liquid and be softened or even transited to liquids for reducing the damage of the crystals on the sealing rings 27. Consequently, the back and forth motion between the first and second protection sleeves 15, 17 may operate normally. In addition, the injection hole 29 may be disposed at the third protection sleeve 25 as well and located at the overlap between the third and second protection sleeves 25, 17.

Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The present embodiment may further comprise a transport mechanism 3, which includes a carrier 31, a moving module 33, and a plurality of clipping units 35. The moving module 33 is disposed at the fixing rod 113 of the base 11 and the second protection sleeve 17, and hence moved linkedly by the second protection sleeve 17. The moving module 33 may further include a moving platform 331 and a moving base 332. The moving base 332 includes a fixing hole 333 and one or more hole 334. The fixing rod 113 passes through the hole 334 of the moving base 113. Both ends of the fixing rod 113 are fixed to the first base body 111 and the second base body 112. The second protection sleeve 17 passes through the fixing hole 333 of the moving base 332, which is fixed to a fixing part 171 of the second protection sleeve 17. Thereby, the moving base 332 is moved linkedly by the second protection sleeve 17. A fixing ring 335 loops the second protection sleeve 17 and is located on one side of the moving base 332.

The moving base 332 may further comprise two fixing members 3321 projecting from both sides of the moving base 332, respectively. The carrier 31 is disposed on the first and second base bodies 111, 112 of the base and further includes two sliding parts 311 having a spacing part 313 therebetween. According to the present embodiment, the two sliding parts 311 and the spacing part 313 may be a concave part and a convex part, respectively. The moving platform 331 may include an opening 336 located at the center of the moving platform 331. The carrier 31 may carry the moving platform 331. Thereby, the moving platform 331 is disposed on the carrier 31. The opening 336 of the moving platform 331 corresponds to the spacing part 313 of the carrier 31. Both ends of the moving platform 331 are located on the two sliding parts 311 of the carrier 31, respectively. Thereby, the moving platform 331 may move back and forth on the carrier 31. Besides, both sides of the moving platform 331 are fixed to the two fixing members 3321 of the moving base 332. Then the moving platform 331 may be moved linkedly by the second protection sleeve 17. The plurality of clipping units 35 are disposed on the carrier 31 and the moving platform 331 of the moving module 33, respectively.

According to the present embodiment, the transport mechanism 3 may be used for transporting workpieces. By transporting thin-plate raw material strips, electrochemical processing may be performed. During the process of transporting raw material strips, the plurality of clipping units 35 will clip and release (unclip) raw material strips according to the movement of the moving platform 331 for transporting raw material strips. The operations of the transport mechanism 3 will be described in detail later. In addition, the transport mechanism 3 will remove the electrochemically-processed raw material strip segments from the processing zone.

Please refer again to FIG. 1B. Each clipping unit 35 includes a body 350, a channel 351, a press member 353, and a push member 355. The channel 351 is located at the bottom of the body 350 for raw material strips to pass through. The press member 353 may be disposed inside the body 350 and corresponding to the channel 351. The push member 355 is against the press member 353. According to the present embodiment, the push member 355 may be a spring or a pneumatic cylinder. When the push member 355 drives the press member 353 to move downwards, the press member 353 presses the raw material strip and thus clipping the raw material strip. Contrarily, when the push member 355 does not push the press member 353, the press member 353 will not press the raw material strip, making the raw material strip movable.

In the following, how the transport mechanism 3 transports raw material strips will be described. According to the present embodiment, four clipping units 35 will be adopted. Two clipping unit 35 are disposed on the front and back ends of the carrier 31; the other two are disposed on the moving platform 331. The plurality of clipping units 35 are arranged in line. As shown in FIG. 1B, the driving unit 131 may drive the moving unit 133 to move forward and thus driving the second protection sleeve 17 to move forward as well. The moving base 332 may be disposed on the second protection sleeve 17 and moves as the second protection sleeve 17 moves. The moving platform 331 is moved forward and linkedly by the moving base 332.

When the moving platform 331 of the transport mechanism 3 moves forwards and transports the raw material strip forward, the plurality of clipping units 35 on the moving platform 311 all clip and fix the raw material strip while the clipping units 35 on the carrier 31 do not. Thereby, the raw material strip is clipped by the plurality of clipping units 35 on the moving platform 331 and moves forward. Afterwards, the plurality of clipping units 35 on the moving platform 331 do not clip the raw material strip while the plurality of clipping units 35 on the moving platform 311 do. At this moment, the moving unit 133 drives the second protection sleeve 17 to move backwards, and hence driving the moving module 33 (the moving platform 331) to move backwards. The raw material strip is clipped by the clipping units 35 on the carrier 31 and becomes fixed and immobile. Thereby, by repeating the above steps, the raw material strip will be transported.

According to the present embodiment, the transmission apparatus 1 may transport raw material strips continuously for performing electrochemical processes. While transporting a raw material strip, the displacement sensing rod 21 and the location sensor 23 may be used to detect the displacement of the moving unit 133 and the moving module 33 and feedback to control the driving unit 131. Thereby, the accuracy of positioning the raw material strip may be enhanced.

Please refer again to FIGS. 7 and 8. The transmission apparatus 1 may further comprise a conductive member 37 fixed at the back end of the carrier 31 and coupled to the anode of the power supply. A plurality of positioning members 19 are disposed in pairs on both sides of the carrier 31. The gaps between two opposing positioning members 191 correspond to the plurality of channels 351 of the plurality of clipping units 35 for allowing raw material strips to pass through as well as positioning them. Thereby, when raw material strips pass through the channels 351, one surface of the raw material strips contact the conductive member 37.

In addition, the present embodiment may further comprise a limiting member 41, a first limit unit 43, and a second limit unit 45. The first limit unit 43 is disposed on the first base body 111; the second limit unit 45 is disposed on the second base body 112. The limiting member 41 is disposed on one side of the moving base 332 and located between the first and second limit units 43, 45. When the transmission module 13 drives the moving base 332 to move, the moving base 332 will drive the limiting member 41 to move. Id the moving base 332 continues to move forward or backward, the front end or the back end of the limiting member 41 will be against the second or first limit unit 45, 43. The first or second limit unit 43, 45 will transmit a signal to an external control device (not shown in the figures), so that the control device may control the driving module 13 to stop the moving base 332.

Accordingly, the present invention conforms to the legal requirements owing to its novelty, nonobviousness, and utility. However, the foregoing description is only embodiments of the present invention, not used to limit the scope and range of the present invention. Those equivalent changes or modifications made according to the shape, structure, feature, or spirit described in the claims of the present invention are included in the appended claims of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A transmission apparatus, comprising: a base; a transmission module, disposed on said base, and having a moving unit; a first protection sleeve, surrounding the outer periphery of said transmission module, and disposed on said base; and a second protection sleeve, having one end surrounding said first protection sleeve and surrounding said moving unit, and moved linkedly by said moving unit.
 2. The transmission apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third protection sleeve, surrounding the other end of said second protection sleeve and fixed on said base.
 3. The transmission apparatus of claim 2, further comprising one or more sealing ring disposed at the overlap of said second protection sleeve and said third protection sleeve.
 4. The transmission apparatus of claim 3, further comprising one or more injection hole, being a hole and disposed at said third protection sleeve.
 5. The transmission apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a protection lid surrounding one end of said third protection sleeve and disposed on said base.
 6. The transmission apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a displacement sensing rod, disposed on said base, said second protection sleeve and said third protection sleeve surrounding the outer periphery of said displacement sensing rod; and a location sensor, disposed at said second protection sleeve, opposing to said displacement sensing rod, and said third protection sleeve surrounding the outer periphery of said location sensor.
 7. The transmission apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first protection sleeve, said second protection sleeve, and said third protection sleeve are hollow cylinders, respectively, and the axis of said first protection sleeve, the axis of said second protection sleeve, and said axis of said third protection sleeve are coaxial.
 8. The transmission apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more sealing ring disposed at the overlap of said first protection sleeve and said second protection sleeve.
 9. The transmission apparatus of claim 8, further comprising one or more injection hole, being a hole and passing through said first protection sleeve.
 10. The transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first protection sleeve and said second protection sleeve are hollow cylinders, respectively, and the axis of said first protection sleeve opposing to the axis of said second protection sleeve.
 11. The transmission apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transport mechanism, said transport mechanism including a carrier, a moving module, and a plurality of clipping units, said carrier disposed on said base, said moving module disposed at and moved linkedly by said second protection sleeve, said moving module moving with respect to said carrier, and said plurality of clipping units disposed on said carrier and said moving module, respectively.
 12. The transmission apparatus of claim 11, wherein said base further comprises a first base body, a second base body, and one or more fixing rod; said fixing rod is disposed between said first base body and said second base body; said moving module includes a moving platform and a moving base; said moving platform is disposed on said moving base; said moving base is disposed at and moved linkedly by said second protection sleeve; and said fixing rod passes through said moving base.
 13. The transmission apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said clipping unit includes a channel, a press member, and a push member; said press member is disposed corresponding to said channel; and said push member is against to said press member.
 14. The transmission apparatus of claim 11, wherein said plurality of clipping units are arranged in line.
 15. The transmission apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a conductive member disposed at one end of said carrier. 